Functional Family Therapist

Evidence Based Associates•New York, NY

9d•$70,000 - $77,300

About The Position

Atlas is a community-based violence prevention program that aims to reduce violent recidivism through intensive, voluntary therapeutic services. As part of the Atlas initiative, the program uses the evidence-based Functional Family Therapy (FFT) model to provide holistic anti-violence services to young people and their families. FFT is a short-term, strength-focused family counseling model for high-risk youth and young adults referred by criminal court, juvenile justice, mental health, school, or child welfare systems. Services are typically provided in the home, but may also take place in an office or other community setting. The Functional Family Therapist carries an assigned caseload and provides virtual or home-based FFT to adults and their families, following model fidelity requirements. The therapist participates in a therapy team, supervision, training, and consultation; connects families with appropriate clinical and concrete supports; documents case progress; and reports regularly to external stakeholders. Evening and weekend work may be required. A master’s degree in social work, counseling, education, or another relevant human service profession is preferred, and is required for the site supervisor position.

Requirements

Preferred: Master’s degree in social work, counseling, education, or another relevant human service profession; required for the site supervisor position.
Direct use of pragmatic family therapies, including structural, strategic, and functional approaches.
Individual therapy with youth and adults using cognitive behavioral techniques.
Marital therapy using behaviorally based approaches.
Behavioral therapy targeting school behavior and academic performance.
Implementation of interventions within or between systems in the youth’s natural ecology that affect or influence youth behavior, including family, peer, school, and neighborhood systems.
Knowledge of family systems theory and application.
Knowledge of social-ecological theory and application.
Knowledge of behavioral therapies theory and application.
Knowledge of cognitive-behavioral therapy theory and application.
Knowledge of pragmatic family therapies theory and application.
Knowledge of child development research and its application in treatment.
Knowledge of social skills assessment and intervention.
Basic counseling and process skills.
Ability to engage clients and maintain a strengths-focused approach.
Ability to shift to process.
Willingness to advocate for youth and families and belief in people’s capacity to grow and change.
Ability to manage stress and practice self-care.
Appreciation, respect, and understanding for teamwork and company systems.
Ability to maintain a high level of self-awareness.
Ability to work comfortably and respectfully across cultural differences.
Willingness to empower families to solve their own problems.
Ability and willingness to work with families in their homes.
Flexibility to work with families when they are available to meet.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in social work, counseling, education, or another relevant human service profession; required for site supervisor position.
Direct experience using pragmatic family therapies, including structural, strategic, and functional approaches.
Experience providing individual therapy with youth and adults using cognitive behavioral techniques.
Experience providing marital therapy using behaviorally based approaches.
Experience with behavioral therapy targeting school behavior and academic performance.
Experience implementing interventions within or between systems in the youth’s natural ecology.

Responsibilities

Carry an assigned caseload.
Provide virtual or home-based Functional Family Therapy to adults and their families, adhering to model fidelity requirements, as post-pandemic working conditions allow.
Actively participate as part of a therapy team, including attending weekly team and individual supervision meetings.
Assist families by actively referring them to appropriate services and supports, and by providing clinical and concrete services.
Complete case progress notes as required by FFT and regularly report to external stakeholders.
Participate in all FFT training, supervision, and consultation activities.
Work evening and weekend hours as required.